As I see it, the future of democracies still lies in the hands and minds of ordinary but creative and pragmatic people.  Within what appears to be a huge “plain vanilla” population of people lies that 1% of remarkably ingenious, creative and inventive people who are courageous, who are usually identified as “thinking outside the box.”  They are those independent thinkers in every community who come to an opinion and action through thoughtful reflection, even contemplation, of the small and large experiences of one’s personal and community life.  They are the ones who nurture the growth of their families and communities, much like the moisture in the soil nurtures the arid tops of plants that are exposed to adverse conditions.  

The greatest error of thinking of all times, repeated thousands of times in hundreds of societies and civilizations, is that those at the top of the hierarchy know best.  This is a grand assumption, a charade of wisdom and intelligence so thoroughly ingrained in society as to be accepted as a true fact by those at the top and those at the bottom.  It is typified by the general belief that ordinary citizens are incapable of creative and ingenious thought that is capable of transforming nations, and the lives of millions of citizens.  It is a deadly assumption that is only eliminated by contrary actions that heal democracies save their citizens.  

What we see from the annals of history is that when the times require great leadership, leadership has always appeared almost as if divinely called.  Leadership as this is rarely military or overtly political in nature, but rather it is leadership that is called to address the social, political, economic/financial needs of “ordinary people” who constitute a nation.  While that type of leadership may seem radical, but it is not violent.  Is our American mindset so jaded by violence that there is no longer room for leadership that brings peace?  

It appears to me that what is to come will surprise us — that the enemy is not “out there” but resident in our beliefs that have been formed by almost continuous war of one type or another since November 1, 1955 in Viet Nam.  No wonder the values and principles that support social stability and social sustainability are so hard for Americans to integrate into their thinking – those values are surreal compared to what this nation has experienced in the last 59 years.  Those three values will remain idealistic visions of stability until we develop the self-discipline to make them a reality.